errand
A short trip to do a small job, like buying something or picking something up.
A short journey taken to complete a specific task, especially to buy, collect, or deliver something, usually near home or work.
A small job you do, usually to help someone, like taking a message or getting something for them.
A small job or duty, often done for someone else, such as delivering a message, collecting something, or completing a simple task outside your usual work.
- Base: errand
- Plural: errands
errand boy
1Person who does simple errands
A person, often young or low in position, whose job is mainly to do simple jobs and short trips for other people.
- He complained that he was treated like an errand boy instead of a professional.
- As a teenager, he worked as an errand boy in a local shop.
- I’m your assistant, not your errand boy.
errand of mercy
1Urgent trip to help someone
A short trip or job you do quickly to help someone who is sick, in danger, or in serious need.
- The volunteers went on an errand of mercy, bringing blankets and food to the flood victims.
- She drove through the night on an errand of mercy to care for her injured friend.
- Doctors flew in on an errand of mercy after the earthquake.
fool's errand
1Pointless or hopeless task
A task or trip that has no real chance of success or is a waste of time.
- Looking for that missing file now is a fool's errand; it was deleted last week.
- They sent him on a fool's errand, knowing the office was already closed.
- Arguing with her about this is a fool's errand.
on an errand
1Away doing a small task
Out of the normal place because you are doing a small job or duty.
- She’s not at her desk; she’s out on an errand.
- The child was sent on an errand to take the book back to the library.
- He met her while she was on an errand for her grandmother.
run an errand
1Go out briefly to do something
To go out for a short time to do a small job, like buying or picking up something.
- I have to run an errand before the meeting starts.
- She ran an errand to the pharmacy during her lunch break.
- Could you run an errand for me and drop this letter at the post office?
run errands
1Do several small outside tasks
To go to different places to do several small jobs, like shopping, posting letters, or paying bills.
- I spent the morning running errands around town.
- I spent the afternoon running errands around town.
- I spent the whole morning running errands around town.
- She ran errands for her elderly neighbor.
- She’s out running errands right now.
- Saturdays are usually busy because I run errands for the whole family.
- He took the car to run some errands before the game.